Afternoon Red Sox Delight – 8/2

David Huff (L), Josh Beckett (R)

After falling last night in the late innings, the Boston Red Sox look to get back on track in game two of a four-game set with the Cleveland Indians tonight at Historic Fenway Park.

Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. and the game will be broadcast in the Red Sox television market on NESN. If you live in the Indians television market, you can watch the game on SportsTime Ohio (STO). And if you can’t catch the television broadcast, you can always listen to the game on the 2011 Red Sox Radio Network.

Josh Beckett makes his 21st start of 2011 for the Red Sox tonight. In his previous 20 starts, Beckett is 9-4 with a 2.17 ERA. He’s made two starts against the Indians this season and is 1-1 with a 3.09 ERA (4 ER/11.2 IP). Beckett has made nine career starts against the Indians and is 4-5 with a 5.04 ERA. Five of those starts have come at the Fens where he is 3-2 with a 5.06 ERA.

David Huff makes his third start of the season since being recalled from the Triple-A Columbus Clippers. In his previous two outings, Huff is 1-1 with a 0.71 ERA (1 ER/12.2 IP). He’s made two career starts against the Red Sox and is 0-2 with 2.38 ERA (3 ER/11.1 IP). His lone start at the Fens came almost one year ago on August 3rd when he allowed three runs in 5.1 IP. Ironically enough, he was matched up with Beckett in that start last year.

Click on the read more button below to see today’s lineups, batter/pitcher matchups and links from the morning/early afternoon if you’re on the home page.

Here are this evening’s lineups:

54-52		66-41
1. Michael Brantley	LF	1. Jacoby Ellsbury	CF
2. Jason Kipnis	2B	2. Dustin Pedroia	2B
3. Asdrubal Cabrera	SS	3. Adrian Gonzalez	1B
4. Travis Hafner	DH	4. Kevin Youkilis	3B
5. Carlos Santana	C	5. David Ortiz	DH
6. Kosuke Fukudome	RF	6. Carl Crawford	LF
7. Lonnie Chisenhall	3B	7. Mike Aviles	SS
8. Matt LaPorta	1B	8. Jason Varitek	C
9. Ezequiel Carrera	CF	9. Darnell McDonald	RF
David Huff	SP	Josh Beckett	SP

And here is how the hitters have fared against today’s starting pitchers:

Cleveland Indians @ Boston Red Sox batter/pitcher matchups

Notes: Tomorrow night’s starter, Tim Wakefield is celebrating his 45th birthday today. To make room on the 25-man roster for Erik Bedard, who will wear No. 23, Drew Sutton has been optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Check back and/or refresh often as more links will be added if/when they become available before game time.

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AT&T improving cell phone coverage at Fenway Park [Boston Globe]

Terry Francona: Clay Buchholz not ruled out for the season [Clubhouse Insider]

Bedard says hello to Red Sox [Clubhouse Insider]

Clay Buchholz aiming for a postseason return [Clubhouse Insider]

Bedard welcomes ‘great opportunity’ with Sox [CSNNE.com]

Dr. M: Dealing with a stress fracture [CSNNE.com]

Sox give official word of Buchholz stress fracture [CSNNE.com]

Video: Is Bedard a rude dude? [ESPN Boston]

SoxProspects.com: July bests and worsts [ESPN Boston]

Lowrie making his way in Pawtucket [ESPN Boston]